The band put out a series of EPs and was signed by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong's label Hellcat Records. In 1998, the Dropkick Murphys released their first full-length album, Do Or Die. Lead singer Mike McColgan, who left the band later that year, was replaced by The Bruisers lead singer Al Barr. In 1999, they released their followup album, The Gang's All Here. In 2001, they released their third album, Sing Loud, Sing Proud. The album showcased the group’s developing sound and included collaborations with The Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. It also marked a significant lineup change for the band. Original guitarist Rick Barton was replaced by former The Ducky Boys' guitarists James Lynch and Marc Orrell; instruments were added and played by new members Ryan Foltz and Spicy McHaggis.
The Dropkick Murphys' next album, Blackout, was released in 2003. The new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the songs "Fields of Athenry" and "The Dirty Glass." The latter features female vocals by Stephanie Dougherty (Deadly Sins). Around the same time, the band released a re-working of the Boston Red Sox anthem "Tessie," which then became the official song of the team's 2004 World Series run. "Tessie" was also used throughout the major motion picture Fever Pitch and was included on the EA Sports MVP Baseball 2005 soundtrack. In 2005, the Dropkick Murphys released Singles Collection Volume 2, featuring covers, B-sides, and other material that didn't make it onto previous albums, and the band contributed a recording of "We Got the Power" to Rock Against Bush, Volume 2.
The Dropkick Murphys' fifth studio album, The Warrior's Code, was released on June 21, 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway," "The Walking Dead," "The Warrior's Code," as well as the bonus track "Tessie." It also includes a song that was inspired by a Woody Guthrie poem, which the group named "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." The song was featured in Martin Scorsese's 2006 film The Departed. Scorsese mentioned the band in an interview after winning his first Oscar.
The Dropkick Murphys released their sixth studio album, The Meanest of Times, on September 18, 2007. It was their first release not on the Hellcat Records label but instead on the label Born & Bred.
In early 2008, Marc Orrell left the band. Thereupon Tim Brennan, who had been playing mandolin, accordion, banjo, tin whistle, and guitar for the band since 2004, replaced Orrell on lead guitar. Tim's previous musical duties were taken over by Jeff DaRosa, former member of The Vigilante and Pinkerton Thugs.
In September of 2022, This Machine Still Kills Fascists was released. It's an acoustic album with unused words and lyrics written by Woody Guthrie, selected and given to the band to use by Guthrie's daughter Nora. It did not feature Al Barr, who was on hiatus for family matters.
The band will release their twelfth album, Okemah Rising, on May 12, 2023. The album was recorded during the same sessions for This Machine Still Kills Facists and like that album will feature songs using the unused lyrics by Woody Guthrie. The album was preceded by the singles "I Know How it Feels" on March 1, 2023, and "Gotta Get to Peekskill" (featuring Violent Femmes) on March 30, 2023.
Studio albums
Do or Die (1998)
The Gang's All Here (1999)
Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (2001)
Blackout (2003)
The Warrior's Code (2005)
The Meanest of Times (2007)
Going Out in Style (2011)
Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)
11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory (2017)
Turn Up That Dial (2021)
This Machine Still Kills Fascists (2022)
Okemah Rising (2023)
3rd Man In
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Weill never finish last
We stood as one where are they now
We grew up fast
To young to know or really give a shit the past has left us worse for ware.
Be strong and stand Stand up like a man
Your concept of Friendship isn't right
The lyrics to Dropkick Murphys’s song 3rd Man In are an ode to the concept of brotherhood and loyalty, particularly within a community or group of friends. The mention of “my friends,” “my town,” and “comraderie” highlights the importance of these relationships in the singer’s life. Despite any hardships they have faced or mistakes that may have been made along the way, they will always stand as one and never finish last.
However, the line “To young to know or really give a shit the past has left us worse for ware” implies that these relationships were not always easy or uncomplicated. The singer acknowledges that they may have done things in the past that they regret, or that they have been hurt by others’ actions. But despite this, they have remained loyal and committed to each other.
The song’s title, 3rd Man In, refers to a hockey term where a player intervenes in a fight between two other players. The chorus encourages the listener to be strong and show their care for their friends by being the third man in, supporting them in any fight or conflict that may arise. The lyrics suggest that this is the true measure of friendship, and that nothing else matters as long as they are fighting together.
Overall, this song is about the bond and loyalty that can exist between friends, even in the face of adversity. The singer emphasizes the importance of standing up for each other and always having each other’s back, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
My friends, my town, comraderie.
The singer cherishes the bond between him and his friends and their shared sense of belonging to their town.
We will never finish last
The singer feels certain that they will always thrive and come out on top in their endeavors.
We stood as one where are they now
The singer wonders where their old comrades have gone and whether they still share the unity and solidarity they used to have.
We grew up fast
The singer and the friends he refers to had to mature and face challenges at a young age, which has affected them deeply.
Too young to know or really give a shit, the past has left us worse for wear.
While they were too immature to understand the consequences of their actions, the singer and his friends have been scarred by the difficult experiences they went through and the poor choices they made in the past.
Be strong and stand, Stand up like a man
The singer encourages his listeners to show courage and face their struggles head-on, while also stressing traditional notions of masculinity.
Your concept of Friendship isn't right
The singer believes that his idea of friendship involves providing physical protection and fighting alongside your friends, which conflicts with other people's ideas of what true friendship means.
Third man in is how you show your care. Nothing else matters but the fight!
The singer believes that physically intervening in conflicts on behalf of your friends is the ultimate way to show your loyalty and love for them, even if it means disregarding other moral or ethical concerns.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEN CASEY, MATTHEW EDWARD KELLY, RICK BARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh Seth
You never let your friends out manned or out gunned. Stand together!
Becky Lippa
Love this one. For me, it's also third man out, girl with the hug hold, not worth it boy, some fights aren't worth feeding. THX DKM ❤️ It takes courage to fight as well as to stand down.
Thomas Hartmann
Always fight!!!!!
Logan138
the best